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Small Arm from a Statue

Egyptian, Classical, Ancient Near Eastern Art

Since fine wood was costly, ancient Egyptian artists usually carved the arms as well as the feet and bases of wooden statues separately. Pegs on the shoulder of the statuette would have been inserted into the two small holes on this arm.

The clenched fist, which originally held a scepter or a staff, indicates that the arm belonged to a statuette of a man. The slender forms and modest musculature seen here were popular features of late Old Kingdom art. However, the lack of the body and face makes it practically impossible to determine the exact date of this arm.
MEDIUM Wood
DATES 2350-332 B.C.E
DYNASTY Dynasty 4, or later
PERIOD Old Kingdom or later
DIMENSIONS 1/2 x 7/16 x 3 11/16 in. (1.3 x 1.1 x 9.4 cm)  (show scale)
ACCESSION NUMBER 37.1207E
CREDIT LINE Charles Edwin Wilbour Fund
MUSEUM LOCATION This item is not on view
CAPTION Small Arm from a Statue, 2350-332 B.C.E. Wood, 1/2 x 7/16 x 3 11/16 in. (1.3 x 1.1 x 9.4 cm). Brooklyn Museum, Charles Edwin Wilbour Fund, 37.1207E. Creative Commons-BY (Photo: Brooklyn Museum, 37.1207E_top_PS2.jpg)
IMAGE top, 37.1207E_top_PS2.jpg. Brooklyn Museum photograph, 2009
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RIGHTS STATEMENT Creative Commons-BY
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